One of the greatest weapons in Nelson Mandela’s armoury was his use of language. His statement from the dock at the 1964 Rivonia trial has become a classic in the annals of courtroom speeches. His inauguration address 30 years later provided one of the late 20th century’s most uplifting moments. In that time, Mandela’s rhetoric shifted from that of militant firebrand to grandfather of the Rainbow Nation. What never changed was his ability to rise above the din with the well-chosen phrase, or to strike a hopeful tone as...
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